TL Amarillo Sod Poodles

Soddies' Bats Go Cold, Drop Game Five to Naturals

Published on April 22, 2023 under Texas League (TL)
Amarillo Sod Poodles News Release


Springdale, Arkansas - The Amarillo Sod Poodles fell, 5-0, to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals after being shutout for the second consecutive night. It would be two loud home frames for the Naturals that sealed the deal for the Soddies who lost their hold on the series that now sits in NW Arkansas' favor, 3-2.

Amarillo got their first scoring threat in the first inning in the form of Ryan Bliss who worked a lead-off walk, followed by a wild pitch, to seat him at second base but was left stranded.

Bliss found himself on second base again in the third inning after roping a double down the line but, like before, was stranded on the base paths.

It was not long before the Naturals got runners in scoring position themselves and capitalized on it. A walk strung together by a pair of base knocks was enough to bring the first Northwest Arkansas batter across the dish in the bottom of the third inning. The Soddies turned a double play to get the first two outs of the frame but it would be at the cost of another Natural scoring, raising the stakes 2-0.

After a quiet 4th inning by both clubs, outside of a lead-off base-hit from 1B Tristin English, the Naturals were able to threaten another score after a pair of base hits and a fly-out moved runners to the corners with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. However, RHP Jeff Bain was able to work out of the inning without allowing a run.

Both clubs posted a quiet pair of innings at-bat until the Soddies attempted to get the score back on track in the eighth inning. CF Neyfy Castillo reached on an error and swiped second base to put himself in scoring position. However, he became Amarillo's fifth man of the night stranded on the base paths.

Northwest Arkansas was able to plate their third runner of the night following an error and an RBI-single in the bottom half of the eighth.

A two-run home run trailed and put the Naturals up by five which was enough to close the door on the Amarillo club who have been shutout just twice in 2023 with both coming in the last two contests.

The Sod Poodles look to set the record straight in game six on Sunday afternoon, seeking a series tie in their six-game set that sits in the Naturals' favor, 3-2.

First pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m.

NOTES:

THE 'PEN IS MIGHTIER: Soddies relievers tossed 5.1 innings without allowing an earned run, conceding four hits and a walk while striking out three Naturals...Coming into tonight's contest, across the last three games in this series (4/19-4/21), the Soddies' bullpen posted a 0.56 ERA (16.0 IP, 1 ER) while notching 19 punch outs...Following the bullpen's zero earned run outing tonight, they have now posted just one earned in 21.1 IP in the last four games of this series, punching out a total of 22 batters, good for a 0.43 ERA and a 9.4 K/9.

A HINT OF BLISS: SS Ryan Bliss went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Bliss has earned a hit in 12 of his first 13 games this season, earning his 7th XBH in tonight's loss which amounts to his fourth double of the season and the only XBH from Amarillo tonight.

I ONLY SPEAK ENGLISH: 1B Tristin English extended his on base-streak to 10 games in as many games played this season, going 1-for-4 with a lead-off knock in the 4th inning. English has posted a hit in nine of his first 10 games this season and is slashing .286/.405/.629 with his SLG and OPS (1.034) currently setting the pace for the club.

BAIN KILLERS: RHP Jeff Bain produced a scoreless outing, holding the Naturals to two hits and a plunk across 3.1 innings pitched while serving one punchie. His 3.1 innings pitched is his season-high and the club-best for IP by a reliever this season. He has tossed 12.0 innings of relief in just five game appearances, the most total innings by any reliever in Amarillo during the 2023 campaign with the closest having thrown just 7.2 innings in four games.

Check out the Amarillo Sod Poodles Statistics

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Texas League Stories from April 22, 2023


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